Doubletree.



M. BUCK.

DOUBLETREE.

APPLICATION FILED APR.17, 1913. 1,084,841, Patented Jan. 20, 1914.

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Inventor by Q Attorneys Witnesses AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MILTON BUCK, OF MODESTO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO WILBURN LANDRITH, OF MODESTO, ILLINOIS.

DOUBLETREE.

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To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MILTON Buck, a citizen of the United States, residing at Modesto, in the county of Macoupin and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Doubletree, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in doublctrees.

An object of the present invention is to provide an extension doubletrec whereby two three, or four draft animals may be secured thereto.

W'ith the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed, can be made within the scope of what is claimed, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the drawings accompanying this specification and forming a part thereof the preferable form of my invention is illustrated, in which Figure 1 is a plan view of my improved device for the harnessing of two horses. Fig. 2 is a similar view of my device when adjusted for three horses. Fig. 3 is a similar view adjusted for four horses. Fig. 41 is a vertical. cross sectional view taken on the longitudinal axis of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings in which similar reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several. views, 1 is the body portion of the doubletree and is provided with the extensible slide members 2, The said members 2 and 3 are dis posed for longitudinal movement within the body portion 1 and are provided at their outer extremities with the apertures 1, 5, to which may be connected a swingletree, a doubletree, or trees as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3, it being noted that the harness traces are to be connected to the swingletrees which are either directly or indirectly secured to the ends of the extensible members 2 and 3.

The body portion 1 comprises a back beam 6 formed integral with which and adjacent the ends thereof are the forwardly projecting guide plates 7, the same being formed adjacent the upper and lower edges of the back beam 6 and spaced a suitable Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed April 17, 1913.

Patented J an. 20, 1911-11.

Serial No. 761,769.

distance apart to thereby form guides at each end of the beam, slidably disposed between which are the extensible members 2 and 3. A third set of guide plates 8 are formed integral with the back beam (5 at the central portion thereof through which extends a pivot 9 securing thereto a hook or its equivalent 10 whereby the body portion of the doubletree may be secured to a wagon, plow or similar agricultural implement. A second post 11 extends through the said guide plates 8, the latter being disposed within the slots formed in the extension members whereby the movements of the same will be limited and guided.

Rigidly secured to the outstanding guide plates 7 and 8 and extending thcrebetween is the front beam 12, the same being rigidly held between the guide plates and spaced a distance from the back beam 6 by the pins 13 or equivalent means, it being noted that the pins 13 may be in the nature of bolts which will rcmovably secure the beam 12 in position with the result that the extensible members are rendered easily accessible and may be readily swung outward about the center guide post 11. The front beam 12 is inserted between the guide plates and directly secured thereto and it will be apparent that rectangular openings will be defined at the ends of the body portion of the doubletrec and the central portion thereof, the same serving as guiding means for the extensible members 2 and 3.

The inner extremities of the extension members 2 and 3 are provided with the projections 1 1 and 15, the same being approximately one half the width of the main portion of said members. The projection 141 is formed adjacent the upper edge of the member 2 while the projection 15 is disposed adjacent and flush with the lower edge of the member 3. As illustrated in Fig. 4; of the drawings, the said projections are adapted to overlap and to abut when they are in a retracted position as illustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawings. The said extension members are provided with a plurality of apertures 16 extending transversely therethrough and through which apertures are adapted to extend and be rigidly held therein the pegs 17 the same being adapted to hold the extension members in any one of their adjusted positions. The said projections 1 1- and 15 are provided with longitudinal slots 18, through which slots extend the guide post 11 whereby the ends of the members 2 and 8 will be guided and held in proper position. Furthermore the said guide post limits the movement of said extension members and prohibits the accidental disengagement of the same from the body portion.

lVhen the extensible doubletree is to be used with two draft animals, the swingletrees 19 are secured to the extension members adjacent their ends and to which the traces of the harness are secured. When the extension doubletree is to be so used, the extensions are disposed in a retracted position with the overlying projections 14 and 15 abutting. In order to secure the extension members in the said retracted position, the pegs 17 are inserted into the apertures on the inner edge of the guide plate 7 from which it will be apparent that it will be impossible for either extension member to move in either direction. When it is desired to use the apparatus herein described with three draft animals, the extension member 3 is brought out to full length which will be when the extremity of the slot 18 contacts with the central post 11. The extension member 2 will then be retracted a corresponding distance and pegs 17 inserted within suitable apertures adjacent and contacting with the inner edge of the guide plate 7 whereby the extension members will be held securely in set position. To the outer extremity of the'retracted member 2 will be secured a doubletree of the ordinary construction to which doubletree will be secured two swingletrees, the latter serving as means for the harnessing of two draft animals to this extension member. To the outer extremity of the extension member 3 which is extended is secured'a swingletree for the harnessing of a single draft animal thereto, it being noted that the various parts of the extension doubletree are so proportioned that the distance from the clip 10 which is secured to the wagon tongue, to the end of an extension member when fully extended will be approximately twice the distance from the clip to the extremity of the other extension member when fully retracted.

As illustrated in Fig. 3 of the drawings, when it is desired to use my improved apparatus in connection with four draft animals, both the extension members 2 and 3 are fully extended and doubletrees secured to the outer extremities thereof to which doubletrees are secured four swingletrees, it being noted that the drawing illustrates the swingletrees and the ordinary doubletrees as being considerably smaller than they would be in actual practice, the extension doubletree being enlarged in order to bring out the various details more clearly. It is noted however, that in the last mentioned position of the extension members it will be only necessary to use two of the pegs in order to rigidly secure the said members in their extended positions, the central post 11 preventing any outward movement thereof. The construction of the entire device is simple and one which will readily transmit the force exerted by the draft animals to the clip 10 to thereby exert a suitable tractive force upon the agricultural implement.

Having thus fully described the invention what I claim to be new and original. with me is 1. In a device of the character described, a body portion with means for securing the same to a vehicle or implement, extension members disposed for longitudinal movement slidably secured thereto, means for limiting the movement of said extension members, the inner meeting ends of said extension members provided with overlapping projections with longitudinal slots therein, and a post secured to said body portion extending through the projection slots adapted to slidably engage the sides thereof, and the outer extremities of said extension members being provided with apertures therein, adapted to support a doubletree and swingletree thereby.

2. In a device of the character stated, the combination of a body portion comprising a back beam, guide plates extending therefrom, a front beam disposed between and secured to said guide plates and disposed a distance from the back beam, extension members provided with longitudinal slots slidably disposed between the front and back beams and said guide plates, means for limiting the movement of said extension members, and means for securing the same in adjusted position.

3. An extension doubletree comprising a body portion including a back beam, a front beam, guide plates at the extremities and central portion of said back beam and rigidly secured to the said front beam, extension members slidably disposed between the said guide plates and the front and back beams and guided in their longitudinal movement thereby, said extension members provided with a plurality of apertures extending transversely therethrough and adapted to receive therein pegs contacting with the body portion to thereby hold the said extension members in adjusted positions.

4. In a device of the character described, a body portion comprising a back beam, guide plates formed integral therewith and projecting therefrom, said guide plates spaced a distance apart and at the upper and lower edges of said back beam and adjacent the ends and at the central portion thereof, a front beam rigidly secured between the outer extremities of said guide plates and spaced a distance from the said back beam, extension members With overlapping projections slidably disposed between the said guide plates and front and back beams, said overlapping projections provided With longitudinal slots therein, and a guide post rigidly secured to the central guide plate extending through said extension member slots and adapted to slidably engage the side Walls thereof, said. extension members provided with means for holding the same in adjusted position, said extension members provided with means for directly and indirectly securing swingletrees thereto.

5. In an extension doubletree, the combination of a body portion including a back beam With integral guide plates extending therefrom at the ends and central portion thereof, the said guide plates arranged in pairs adjacent the upper and lower edges of the said back beam, a front beam detachably secured to and between the said guide plates and spaced a distance from the back beam, extension members disposed for longitudinal sliding movement between said guide plates and front and back beams and held thereby, said extension members provided with overlapping abutting projections with longitudinal slots therein, a guide post extending between the central guide plates and extending through the said slots adapted to contact with the side walls thereof,

said extension members provided with a plurality of apertures extending transversely thereof, and means detaehably secured within said apertures adapted to hold said extension members in adjusted position, said extension members provided with openings adj aeent the outer extremities thereof adapted to thereby directly and indirectly support swingletrees.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto a'liixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

MILTON BUCK. lrVitnesses:

JOHN A. TURNER, L. H. NIFONG.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, I). C. 

